Joseph Bucholtz, 65

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Joseph Bucholtz, 65, of Mariners Harbor, a devoted husband and a loving uncle to his many nieces and nephews, died Saturday at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.

Born in Brooklyn, he moved to South Beach with his wife, Rosemarie, in 1976. The couple eventually settled in Mariners Harbor in 2004.

Mr. Bucholtz worked as a printer for 35 years, first at Kidder, Peabody & Co. in Manhattan, and then at Merrill Lynch in New Jersey. He retired from the printing business in 2002, and enrolled in the College of Staten Island. There, he received his bachelor's degree in counseling.

He worked as a counselor for substance abusers at Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay, for about four years. During that time, he worked toward a master's degree in his field, but fell ill just months before completing the program.

"Helping people through their problems was a passion of my husband," said Mrs. Bucholtz. She said that several people told her husband that without his help, they would have never been able to turn their lives around.

"He changed a lot of people's lives," she said.

As a well-loved member of his community, Mr. Bucholtz was twice voted in as president of his condominium complex on Maple Parkway in Mariners Harbor. In his leisure time, he loved watching the Mets play baseball, and listening to classic rock music.

Mr. Bucholtz is survived by his wife of 43 years, Rosemarie; a brother, Edward Bucholtz, and a sister, Catherine Amario.

The funeral will be Thursday from A. Azzara Funeral Home, with a mass at 10:30 a.m. in Holy Rosary R.C. Church, both South Beach. Arrangements include cremation.